By Nihad Gazal (MWA)

Striving to seek the Night of Power during the last ten nights of Ramadan is a goal every person hopes to achieve. Nihad shares practical steps to ensure we maximize our efforts.

• Be ever ready to make du’a (supplication) during the prescribed times. If you are normally busy with chores till the last moment then cut short the du’a list a bit, mark it in your head the super important ones.
• Complete your 5 – 6 hours of sleep and take naps if required so that you are active during the mornings and the nights.
• Get yourself off from the tech world. Try to disconnect from the social networking sites – Facebook and Twitter for example until and unless it is like really, really important or else 10 – 15 minutes is more than enough which has to be something beneficial or else forget it. Trust me, You WILL survive perfectly without updating/liking/surfing.
• Don’t waste time in lavish Iftaars. You can cook lovely savouries for the rest of the year and feed your family. For now, cook simple, healthy, easy and QUICK meals!
• Don’t compromise on your cave time – this is your time to spend alone with Allah and the Quran.
• Keep the dhikr on where you are constantly making Istighfar (seeking forgiveness from the Almighty) and other Adhkars. Let NOT your tongue be free even for a split second.
• Make beautiful intentions even while doing the chores so that you are rewarded for them In sha Allah (if Allah Wills).
• To get back the missing Khushu, try to memorize short Surahs and test yourself in Salaah, this way you will always concentrate on the Ayaahs if you are missing any or not, hence your head will not wander anywhere else, beidhnillah.
• Another tip for Khushu (serenity or calmness) is to prepare yourself before you pray. Try to read a few ayahs (verses) from Quran or understand a Hadith so you get yourself in that pattern. Moreover, it serves as a reminder for the heart and brain that they are about to talk to Allah (The Most High).
• While you pray for the never-ending pleasures of this world. Please don’t forget the ‘forever life’ which is the Aakhirah (Afterlife). Please concentrate on the life of grave, seek protection from the fitnah of Yaajuj and Maajuj (Gog and Magog) and fitnah (test or tribulation) of the Dajjal (Anti-Christ).
• Ask Allah (The Most High) for a good ending, a peaceful death and a hayat (life) filled with HIS obedience.
• Get rid of your past sins. Seek HIS forgiveness during Qiyaams (orthostasis/standing) and while you are in Sujood (prostation). Ponder over every major and minor sin conducted and ask Allah (The Most High) to wipe it off.
• Beg Al-Qadeer (All Powerful) for the highest levels in Jannah, ask for Al-Firdaus!

Please aim high, ya Muslimeen (O Muslims). Let us pray. Let us stand for Qiyaams more than we can. Let us cry out to Al-Wadood (The Most Loving) for his A’fwa (Pardoning), and change our destinies through an appropriate Ibadah Plan (worship and servitude for the Almighty). Let’s get back and let us rise again. Let’s live the spirit of Ramadan before the shayaateen get out!

At the end of the day, we will return to Him. Success comes to those who strive hard and glad tidings is for the Muhsinoon (the good doers) who will be the dwellers of the best of the destinations without doubt!